Vessel activated beverage dispenser

Abstract

A product dispenser for use with a container. The product dispenser may include a container motion detector to detect the container in motion, a graphical user interface, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor receives a plurality of data associated with the container in motion from the container motion detector and implements instructions that perform the steps of determining the motion of the container, enabling a user to interact with the graphical user interface, and allowing the user to rotate or move the container to select a product type from the graphical user interface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application contains subject matter that is related to the subject matter of the following co-pending applications, each of which is assigned to the same assignee as this application, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Ga., U.S.A. Each of the following applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: “METHOD FOR MANAGING ORDERS AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES”, application Ser. No. 12 / 767,050, filed herewith, and “METHOD OF PRINTING INDICIA ON VESSELS TO CONTROL A BEVERAGE DISPENSER”, application Ser. No. 12 / 767,049, filed herewith.TRADEMARKS[0002]The mark COCA-COLA® is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Ga., U.S.A. Other marks used herein may be registered trademarks, tradenames, or product names of The Coca-Cola Company or other companies.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]This application relates to a user interface device, container activated, for use with a product dispenser. The device ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent describes a product dispenser that can be used with a container. The dispenser has a feature that detects when the container is moving, and a user interface that allows the user to interact with it. The user can rotate or move the container to select different types of products from the interface. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a more efficient and convenient way for users to access and select the products they need.

Problems solved by technology

Operation of a beverage dispenser in a quick or full serve restaurant environment can be overly complex.

In this regard, having to stop long enough to navigate a graphical user interface to select a beverage type from a beverage menu and then position and hold a cup while filling is proceeding takes time and may negatively impact the rate at which consumers may be serviced by the crew member.

Having to put food orders down to fill beverages may lead to awkwardly having to stack food, place food where it does not belong, and / or balance food trays to free hands to operate the beverage dispenser controls and fill the beverage cups.

This may cause a situation where children and others may have difficulty reaching the beverage dispenser controls to be able to select and fill a beverage cup easily and safely.

At this point, it may be difficult to tell which drink is which.

As the numbers of beverage choices increase in quick or full serve restaurants, guessing who receives the DIET COKE® beverage and who receives the COCA-COLA ZERO™ beverage may be difficult and frustrating to a consumer.

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